Flush valve operating arrangement



March 31, 1953 H. RUSSELL 2,633,141

FLUSH VALVE OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 15, 1947 2 SHEETS SI-IEET 1 POWER 5 LINE Q 55 2 3/ A so 32 22 a9 1-:- 52 24 40 J" "T 2 i-- L ZJ 37 as 33 '25 a5 42 43 4 a4 9 l 2a 22 F1612 50 i 52 36 n- A J J 39 6, 62

as 65 m, ,1 60

INVENTOR. IRVING H. RUSSELL Pub M4 ATTORNEYS 4 L 11 L 4 2 o E m T W am m m m H m 6 A w W W 2 V MP 1. H. RUSSELL FLUSH VALVE OPERATING ARRANGEMENT March 31, 1953 Filed Dec 13, 194'? Patented Mar. 31, 1953 H FLUSH VALVE OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Irving H. Russell, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 13, 1947, Serial N0. 791,539

This invention relates in general to flush valves but more particularly to a new and improved arrangement for operating flush valves for flushing water closets.

It is an object of the invention to provide a flush valve operating arrangement in which the flush valve is prevented from being operated under certain conditions when an attempt is made to do so.

In the operation of passenger trains, it is customary for the conductor or other trainman to lock the toilet room doors of the cars whenever the train is stopped as at a railroad station, so that the passengers will be prevented from using thewater closets during the stop. Unless this is done, objectionable insanitary conditions, and soiling of the section of train track at the railroad station, will occur. It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a flush valve operating arrangement in which the flush valves are automatically rendered inoperative whenever a'train is stopped, and upon resumption of travel are again rendered operative so that the toilet room doors need not be locked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flush valve operating arrangement in which an electrical control device is adapted to prevent a manual operating member from actuating the flush valve, but which control device will automatically release the operating member subsequently to cause the flush valve to function.

With the above and other objects in view whichwill. appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be more fully described,particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, and illustrated in the attached drawings.

'In the accompanying two sheets of drawings there is illustrated several preferred forms of the invention in which:

. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a flush valve and the novel operating and blocking arrangement therefor; V

Fig. -2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of I a modifiedform of the flush valve operating arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of another modified form of the invention shown in its normal position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the valve operating member locked in operated position;

5 is a fragmentary view of the device of 3 Claims. (Cl. 13749) Fig. 3 showing the manner in which the flush valve is tripped;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the tripping arrangement of Fig. 5; while Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic showing of the invention located in a passenger vehicle.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, the flush valve indicated generally at '5 is of well known construction and is directly connected to the inlet water supply pipe 6 while the outlet 1 is connected directly with the usual water closet bowl for flushing the same. The operating and blocking arrangement indicated generally at 8 is supported upon the flush valve in the opening 9 in place of the customary manual operated handle furnished regularly with the flush valves for operating the same. The detailed construction and operation of the flush valve 5 being generally well understood, a brief description of the same will suflice. The flush valve 5 comprises a cylindrical hollow cast body In having an enclosing cover I l screwed on top and within whichthere is arranged the piston chamber l2 for the slidable accommodation of piston I3. i

The piston I3 is adapted to move towards and away from a valve seat 14 axially arranged within the body 10, and upon its upward movement permits water from the supply inlet 6 to pass downward through the outlet 1 into the water closet or other fixture. The piston is provided with a by-pass opening l5 extending from the outside of the piston to permit water flow to take place to the upper side of the piston I3 into chamber I2, and hold the piston on its seat, due to the differential pressure areas between the two sides of the piston. A by-pass pin I B in'the piston is adapted to close by water pressure upon the small by-pass opening l8 leading into the upper chamber whenever the piston moves down on its seat M to time the closing operation. An adjustable screw IS in the cover II is provided for the purpose of adjustingthe stroke of the piston l3 and therefore the volume of water passing through the valve.

Located within the piston l3 isa relief valve 20 which is adapted to cause the operation of the piston by releasing the pressure in chamber I2 whenever the relief valve is tilted from engagement with its seat 2| arranged in the bottom of the piston. The relief valve 20 has a depending sleeve 22 thereon within which a valve stem 23 is adapted to telescope for a purpose which will be hereinafter po nted out. The lower end of piston I3 18 also provided with the barrel portion 24 for the purpose of regulating the refill portion of the flush for the water closet and to guide the piston. For operating the flush valve, a reciprocating operating member or plunger 25 is provided, which upon being thrust forward against the side of the valve stem 23, causes a tilting action of the relief valve 20 to take place, so that the water pressure on the top side of the piston is relieved. As soon as the piston reaches the upper end of its stroke and the relief valve 28 is seated again, the piston gradually descends and eventually engages its seat l4, shutting off the water flow through the valve.

The operating plunger 25 is actuated according to the present invention by the operating arrangement indicated generally at'8. This arrangement comprises a tubular housing member 30 threaded throughout most 'of its external diameter and having a flange at its front end upon which the coupling nut 3| is arranged so that the tubular housing 30 can be securely clamped to the opening 9 of the flush valve as shown. A bushing 32 is threaded to the inside of the tubular housing 38 and also clamped by the. coupling nut 3| to the opening 9 of the valve body i0. This bushing 32 at its front end is provided with 'a packing nut 33 and has the operating plunger 25 extending axially and slidabl'y through it to support the same. At one end the plunger 25 is provided with a circular head portion 34 against which a restoring spring 35 abuts while the other end of spring 35 engages the bushing 32. A shoulder 36 on bushing 32 adapted to be engaged by the head 34 serves to limit the forward thrust or stroke of the plunger 25.

A further portion of the operating member includes the rod 31 which at one end contacts and abuts the plunger head 34 and has a collar 38 suitably secured thereon at intermediate portion. The front end of rod 31 extends forward at 39 from the collar 38 and is threaded into a push button 40 which is adapted to be manually pushed inward along the internal diameter of the tubular housing 30.

For the purpose of supporting the front end of the housing 38 in the desired location on a wall or suitable partition 4!, the clamping nuts 42 and 43 are provided which are threaded on the outside of the housing 30, as shown.

At a point approximately midway between the operating button 40 and the coupling nut 3| on the tubular housing 30 there is threaded a supporting member 58, which member is rigidly secured and locked in position by means of a pin driven through both the member 50 and the housing 30 on the bottom side. The supporting member 50 has an upstanding portion within which there is slidably arranged a blocking memher or pin 52 protruding into the interior of the tubular housing 30 and normally blocking the path of forward movement of collar 38, as shown. The upper end 53 of the blocking pin 52 is enlarged and serves as the operating plunger of a solenoid 54, which solenoid has a frame member 55 at its lower end threaded into the supporting member 50 as shown. A light spring 56 at the upper end of the plunger 53 within the solenoid serves to urge theblocking member 52 in its downward normal position assisted by gravity. The solenoid 54 is energized by a source of current received from a power line over conductors 5? and 58, the application of which current is controlled, for example, by switch 59.

' In the cust'omary operation of railroad trains, and passenger cars 80 as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. '7, the electric power serving the lights and other devices is received over lines such as from generators 8| coupled on the wheels 82, as long as the train is in motion. However, when a train is stopped, or preferably when it has slowed down and is proceeding at a speed of around 20 M. P. H., the generators 8| no longer operate to supply the current. It is therefore customary to provide switching means in the generator circuit such as the control panel 59 which will automatically disconnect the generator 8| from the power lines 84 and switch over to a storage battery, which then furnishes the required power.

Advantage is taken of the above fact according to the invention to prevent the operation of the flush valves because, as has been pointed out, when a passenger train has stopped in a railroad station, it is desirable that the water closets 83 be prevented from being flushed and causing the trackwayat the railroad station to be soiled. The wires 57 and '58, over which the solenoid 54 is energized, are therefore only connected by the control panel 59 to the power line leading to the train generator 8! and not to the storage battery in the present arrangement. It is obvious with such an arrangement that when a train is stopped, the solenoid 54 will be deenergized, permitting the blocking pin 52 to ob-' struct the collar 38, as shown. Pushing on the button 40 by a passenger therefore cannot cause. a forward motion of the operating member or plunger 25 to trip the valve stem 23. As soon as the train is in motion and has reached a speed of 20 M. P. H., the power line is automatically switched overto the generator line from the battery, causing the solenoid 54 to become energized over the generator power line 51-58, which action causes the solenoid plunger 53 to be raised upwardly withdrawing blocking pin 52 from the path of movement of collar 38. This enables the user of the flush valve to push button 40 forwardly to impart a thrust to the operating plunger 25, tilting relief valve stem 23 and causing an actuation of the flush valve. Since this action can only occur when a train is in motion and would obviously be some distance away from the railroad station, the operation of the flush valve would cause no insanitary condition.

In case the push button 48 is held inward by a user in an attempt to hold the flush valve operated, the end of plunger 25 will be held in the path of the downward movement of valve stem 23 which will then telescope within the sleeve 22 and permit the relief valve 20 to close upon itsseat 2| and cause the piston [3 to shut oif the valve in the normal manner. Releasingthe push button 4!] permits spring 35 to restore plunger 25 and the valve stem 23 to drop down again opposite the end of plunger 25.

It is clear that in the modification shown in Fig. 1, the operating button 40 cannot under any circumstances be operated as long 'as the blocking pin 52 is in the position shown. Therefore, when a water closet is used and then an attempt made to flush the valve, the 'waste"will remain in the water closet until either the user subsequently operates the button after the train is in motion, or the next user will do so.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. '2, -the flush valve is automatically "tripped and operated after the operating plunger 25 has first been operated by the user and the train has reached its 20 P. H.--speed. Whereas the up crating plunger 25, shown in Fig. 1 tripped the flush valve on its forward stroke, the modification shown in Fig. 2 trips the valve stem 23 on circumference of head 65 and is partially tele-- scoped within the sleeve 22 of relief valve 20 as shown.

A further modification resides in the collar 38 being normally positioned within tubular housing 3li-so that the-blocking pin 52 normally rests, on the outer diameter of collar 38 rather than on front side as in Fig. 1. With the foregoing modificationsof the elements, it will be clear that when solenoid 54 is not energized and the operating member 39 is pushed forward to attempt a flushing operation, the blocking pin 52 drops downward to the left side of collar 38 and will lock it in this position against the tension exerted bythe restoring spring 35 after the manual forward thrust has been removed. The head 60 also moves forward until the lower end of valve stem 23 drops to the left off the circumference and contacts the upper side of shank 6 I. Under such circumstances, the operating plunger 25 is cockedor held in its forward position as long as the blocking pin .52 is locked behind collar 38. When, now,'the train starts and reaches the required 20 M. P. H. speed and the power circuit is switched from the battery to the generators, solenoid 54 automatically operates to withdraw the blocking pin 52; then the operating member 25 under the influence of the energy stored in spring 35 is released, causing a left-hand movement of the elements and simultaneously therewith the head Bli trips the valve stem 23 in a left-hand direction, tilting the relief valve 20 off its seat 2| and causing the operation of the flush valve. The taperednose 62 of the head 60 is provided for thepurpose of enabling the assemblyof the operating elements so that the valve stem 23 can be pushed sideways and is not jammed when the plunger 25 is assembled with the coupling nut 3| and clamped to the opening 9. ,In Fig.2 there is also disclosed a remote control means for operating. theiflush valveand this consists of a movable disc 53 arranged within the forward end of tubular housing 30 together with a closing cap 54, which cap is adapted to support one end of a flexible wire cable 65 arranged within the thin tube 56. The push button iii may be located at some remote point and includes the housing assembly 68, arranged so that an inward thrust of button 5'! causes a corresponding movement of cable 65 imparting an end thrust on the disc 53 and the operation of the elements within housing 30, as well as the plunger 25. If the I blocking pin 52 is withdrawn, spring 35 returns the plunger 25, thereby tripping the valve stem 23. The cable 55 is also pushed back by spring 35 which is assisted by the spring 69 under the push button 51.

The foregoing arrangements can also be utilized advantageously for example, in mental or penal institutions where it is the practice to have an attendant control the actual operation of the flush valves, so that the inmates cannot maliciously or repeatedly operate the flush valves.

The attendant will then simply close switch 59 momentarilyfoperating all'th'e's'olenoids 54 to re lease any of the locked plungers 25 as in Fig. 2,'or

hold the switch 59 closed while the inmates operate push buttons 40 of Fig. 1.

The invention contemplates placing the sole-.

noid on the bottom side of tubular member 30 opposite from that shown in Fig. 1 in which case the solenoid 54 is energized from the batteries when the train is stopped and blocking pin 52 is projected upward to prevent. movement of collar 38. When the train is-in motion and the power line switched to the generators, the solenoid is de-energized and the lockingpin 52 drops downward under the influence of gravity.

Referring nowto the modification of the invention disclosed in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the operating member and elements shown within the tubular member 30 are similar to those of Fig. 2. The locking pin 52 is likewise arranged to normally rest upon the periphery of collar 38 and drops behind it when the push button is operated. The forward end of the operating member or plunger- 25, however, is different, it being provided with a- U-shaped member or trigger 10 having one leg loosely attached as by a shouldered screw 1| directly to the end of plunger 25. In the normal position of the operating arrangement, as shown in Fig. 3, the other leg 12 of trigger 10 serves as the resting place for the end of valve stem 23' each time after the flush valve has been operated. Should an attempt be made to operate the flush valve when a train is stopped, the locking pin 52 will be resting on collar 38 and upon ac-. tuation of push button 40, the locking .pin drops.

behind the collar as shown in Fig. 4. The spring 35 at the same time is compressed and plunger 25 pushed forward so that trigger I0 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that.

of Fig. 4, with the result that the valve stem 23 drops downward off of the trigger end 12, cooking or preparing it for operation. Now

when the locking pin 52 is subsequently with-.

closes down on its seat, the end of stem 23 again.

comes to rest on top of the leg in its normal position, indicated in Fig. 3.

; The U-shaped trigger 70 is loosely and rotatively' attached to the end of plunger 25 becausethe' plunger is apt to be axially rotated due to repeated use and unless the trigger is loose, it could rotate with the plunger and possibly be positioned so it would not engage the valve stem 23. As arranged, however, the trigger will always be held in its normal position by gravity as shown in Fig. 3. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 6, should there be any tendency of the trigger to shift to positions as indicated by the dotted lines at 13 and 14, the water flowing through the valve as it flushes would have a tendency to force the trigger back into its-vertical position.

What is claimed is:

1. [[n a vehicle, a flush valve operating arrangement including a flush valve and a water closet located in said vehicle, said flush valve having a valve stem which is tripped to cause the operation of the flush valve, a manually actuated plunger arranged in operative relation to aces- 1* said valve stem, said plunger comprising a round rod having'a head portion on one end thereof against which said valve stem is normally and slidably biased, said plunger and said head portion being arranged so that the normal position of said valve stem with respect to said head portion maintained any rotary position of said plunger rod, means responsive to the manual operation of said plunger for :giving it a forward thrust so that said valve stem slides oil of said head portion without causing the tripping of said valve stem, spring means for restoring said plunger after its operation and for moving said head portion against the side of said valve stem, blocking means for locking said plunger in its forward position, said blocking means being effective to lock-said plunger whenever said vehicle is at rest or travelling at a predetermined speed so that said water closet cannot be flushed by said flush valve, means for automatically releasing sa'idblocking means from said plunger after said vehicle has reached said predetermined speed whereby said spring means is effective to restore said plunger, and move said head portion against said valve stem for tripping said valve stem to operate said flush valve, the operation of said fiushvalve causing said valve stem to again resume its normal position upon said head portion.

2. In a flush "valve operating arrangement, a flush valve, a telescoping type of valve stem in said flush valve which is tripped to cause the operation of the hush valve, a manually operated plunger :rod arranged in operative relation to said valve stemysaid valve stem having limited sliding movement relative to said valve and "being biased toward the outer end of said plunger, said plunger having a round head portion upon the periphery of which said valve stem normally rests in its telescoped position whereby upon a for- Ward manual operation of said plunger said valve stem drops behind said head portion, said plunger rod and said head portion being arranged so that the normal position of said valve stem with respect to said head portion is maintained in any 'rotary'position of said plunger rod, means for automatically locking said plunger in its forward position, when normally operated, means for automaticallyreleasing said locking means from said plunger, and means responsive to the release of said blocking means for restoring said plunger to its normal position and for causing said head portion to engage and trip the valve stem, the operation of said flush valve causing said valve stem to again assume its normal position upon said head portion.

"3; In avehicle, a flush valve operating arrangement including a flush valve and a water closet located in said vehicle, a telescoping type of valve stem in said :flush valve which is tripped to cause the operation of the hush valve, a plunger rod arranged to be manually operated to trip said valve stem, said valve stem having limited sliding movement relative to said valve and :being biased toward the outer end of said plunger, a round head portion on the end of said plunger upon the periphery of which said valve stem normally rests in its telescoped position whereby in response to a manual thrust of said plunger said valve {stem drops behind said head portion, said plunger rod and said head portion being arranged so that the normal position of said valve stem with respect to said head portion is maintained in any rotary position of said plunger rod, a blocking member adapted to 'engage said plunger automatically after the manual operation of said plunger to lock the same in its forward thrust position as long as the vehicle is at rest or travelling below a predetermined speed whereby flushing of the water closet is prevented, automatic means for releasing said blocking means from said plunger when the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined speed, and spring means on said plunger for restoring said plunger when the blocking means is released, and for causing said head portion to engage and trip said valve stem to operate the hush valve, the operation of said lflllSh valve causing said'valve stem to again assume its normal position upon said head portion.

IRVING H. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Haldane Mar. 20, 1945 

